Bilateral relations Switzerland–Ecuador

Relations between Switzerland and Ecuador are good. The free trade agreement between EFTA and Ecuador, which entered into force on 1 November 2020, is also expected to boost trade.

Key aspects of diplomatic relations

Political relations between Switzerland and Ecuador are relatively low-key. The most recent ministerial level meeting took place in September 2017 when Federal Councillor Johann Schneider-Amman received Ecuador's Minister of Foreign Trade Pablo Campana on an official visit to Bern.

Bilateral double taxation, air transport and mutual legal assistance agreements are in place. A free trade agreement between EFTA and Ecuador came into force in 2020.

Treaty database

Government of Ecuador (es)

Economic cooperation

Trade between Switzerland and Ecuador is relatively modest. In 2022 Switzerland imported goods worth CHF 510 million from Ecuador. In the same year, Switzerland exported products to the value of CHF 115.3 million to Ecuador  – mainly comprised of pharmaceuticals, chemicals and machinery.

At the end of 2021, direct investment from Switzerland in Ecuador stood at around CHF 284 million and Swiss companies employed 5,215 people in the country.

In 2020, the Ecuadorian-Swiss Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services (Swisscham) was opened, which aims to promote and strengthen trade relations between the two countries.

Trade promotion, Switzerland Global Enterprise 

Swiss nationals in Ecuador

According to statistics on the Swiss abroad, 1,724 Swiss nationals were living in Ecuador at the end of 2022. 

History of bilateral relations

A Convention on Friendship, Establishment and Trade between Switzerland and Ecuador has been in effect since 1888. Switzerland opened a consulate in Quito in 1938 and the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1963. 

Between 1969 and 2009, Ecuador was a priority country for Swiss development cooperation. The poverty reduction programmes were wound up at the end of 2010 when Ecuador became a middle-income country.

Ecuador, Historical Dictionary of Switzerland (de, fr, it)

Diplomatic Documents of Switzerland, Dodis